IGLYO states with deep concern that homophobic posters promoting hate speech have appeared in the streets of Armenia’s capital Yerevan and other major cities in the country.

An ultra-nationalist right-wing youth NGO calling themselves “Mek Azg” (“One Nation”) is preparing and distributing posters claiming “the Armenian nation to say “No” to homosexuality and erotic websites” that have already flooded the streets of Yerevan and other cities (to view the posters and get information about this anti-gay campaign in English, please, follow this link.

The NGO is also promoting xenophobia and anti-US propaganda. However, the group’s main target are LGBTQ people, with their anti-gay campaigns becoming more intense and fierce every day.

Moreover, the NGO has started creating networks and gaining allies among the so-called “national” and “patriotic” NGOs and individuals who, apart from distributing homophobic flyers and posters, use social networks to chase LGBTQ individuals, using offensive language and threatening to assault them physically.

In view of this disturbing situation, the IGLYO Board calls upon local/national and international government institutions, human rights watchdogs, NGOs and LGBTQ activists to address hate speech and discriminatory statements affecting the lives of LGBTQ people in Armenia.

As a Council of Europe member-state, Armenia must respect the PACE Resolution combating Discrimination on Grounds of Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity and take decisive steps to combat homo/bi/transphobia, hate speech and hate crimes.

Besides, Article 14.1 of the Constitution of the Republic of Armenia states that “..any discrimination based on any ground such as sex, race, color, ethnic or social origin, genetic features, language, religion or belief, political or any other opinion, membership of a national minority, property, birth, disability, age or other personal or social circumstances shall be prohibited.”

IGLYO offers its staunch support to LGBTQ activists and human rights advocates in Armenia and urges international institutions and human rights defenders to undertake prompt measures to address these totally unacceptable violations against LGBTQ people living in this country.